Substation Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Substation Design Manager

Company: HDR

Location: Sacramento, California, United States

Job Type: Full-time, Regular

Category: Engineering Management / Power Delivery Operations

Date Posted: March 31, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (4-5 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the technical execution and project delivery of high-voltage substation projects, ensuring alignment with client requirements and HDR's quality standards.

• Serve as a technical lead and mentor to project engineers, EITs, and CADD/Designers, fostering professional development and knowledge transfer within the team.

• Collaborate closely with Project Managers to define scope, schedule, budget, and manage technical risks, changes, and overall project execution.

• Drive the development and implementation of robust project execution plans, ensuring efficient and effective technical delivery.

• Contribute to the growth of HDR's Power sector by supporting proposal development, technical papers, and industry engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior technical leadership position within HDR's Power sector, specifically focusing on substation design and project execution. The emphasis on partnering with Project Managers suggests a dual focus on technical excellence and project delivery metrics, a common dynamic in operations-oriented engineering roles. The requirement for a strong in-office presence and US Citizenship indicates a need for consistent team collaboration and adherence to client-specific regulations within the US power infrastructure industry.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Partner with Project Managers to ensure successful technical execution of high-voltage substation projects, independently managing project deliverables while the PM handles scope, schedule, budget, and client relations.

• Develop and implement comprehensive project execution plans for the technical aspects of substation design projects, outlining methodologies, resources, and timelines.

• Assign project tasks to engineering and design teams, providing clear technical guidance, direction, and oversight to ensure accuracy and efficiency.

• Support the technical facets of scope, schedule, and budget management, including contributing to proposal development, creating work breakdown structures, assessing progress, identifying risks, managing changes, and optimizing schedules.

• Direct, mentor, and train project engineers, EITs, and CADD/Designers, fostering their technical growth and ensuring adherence to design standards and best practices.

• Coordinate and conduct quality checks and reviews of all project deliverables in accordance with HDR's Quality Management Systems (QMS), ensuring world-class quality for clients.

• Manage multiple projects concurrently, effectively leveraging and coordinating project teams located in different geographical regions.

• Collaborate with senior engineers and technical leaders to identify and develop specialized technical expertise, and participate in ongoing training to deepen understanding of complex power system concepts.

• Assist in the development of technical papers and presentations to showcase HDR's technical capabilities at industry conferences and events, contributing to thought leadership.

• Participate in project reviews with management, working alongside Project Managers and Project Controllers to present project status and strategic insights.

• Perform other essential duties as required to support the Power Delivery practice and its project objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities highlight a blend of technical leadership, project management support for technical execution, and team mentorship. The emphasis on "technical aspect of scope, schedule, and budget" and "technical execution of the project deliverables" clearly defines the operational purview of this role, distinguishing it from a pure Project Manager role. The mention of coordinating teams in different locations underscores the need for strong remote collaboration and project management skills within an operational framework.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in substation design and project execution, with a strong track record of technical leadership.

• Demonstrated experience in project execution within the Power Market Sector, preferably with an engineering consulting firm.

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to lead and mentor project engineers, EITs, and CADD/Designers, providing effective technical guidance and development.

• Strong understanding of high-voltage substation design principles, equipment, and construction methodologies.

• Excellent organizational, project management, and communication (both written and verbal) skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts clearly.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

• Experience with standard Power Market Sector design software, including but not limited to: AutoCAD, Revit, PLS CAD, Plant 3D, and AutoPipe.

• Ability to interact effectively with diverse design teams and stakeholders, fostering collaborative project environments.

• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture, demonstrating initiative and flexibility in embracing change.

Preferred Skills:

• Professional Engineering (PE) licensure.

• Experience with HDR's Quality Management Systems (QMS) or similar rigorous quality assurance processes.

• Familiarity with industry technical and professional groups such as IEEE, NAPE, EPRI, etc.

• Experience in developing technical papers and presentations for industry conferences.

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to proactively identify and mitigate project risks.

• Experience supporting proposal development and scope definition for new projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The distinction between "Required" and "Preferred" qualifications is crucial for candidates. The "10+ years" experience level aligns with a management role, while the "5 years related experience" might refer to a more specific technical oversight capacity. The inclusion of specific software like PLS CAD and AutoPipe is vital for candidates to assess their technical fit. The mention of US Citizenship is a critical compliance requirement to note.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase projects where you led the technical design and execution of high-voltage substations, demonstrating your ability to manage complex deliverables.

• Include examples of project management within the technical execution phase, highlighting your role in scope, schedule, and budget support.

• Present evidence of your mentorship and leadership of engineering and design teams, illustrating your impact on team development and project success.

• Provide case studies that detail your involvement in quality assurance and review processes, demonstrating adherence to QMS or similar rigorous standards.

Process Documentation:

• Detail your approach to developing and implementing project execution plans for technical aspects, including methodology, resource allocation, and risk mitigation strategies.

• Illustrate your process for assigning tasks, providing technical guidance, and conducting quality checks/reviews for project deliverables.

• Explain your method for supporting scope, schedule, and budget management, particularly in proposal development and work breakdown structure creation.

• Describe your strategy for coordinating and leading geographically dispersed teams to achieve project objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role of this level, a portfolio is essential to demonstrate practical application of skills. The focus should be on leadership in technical execution, team management, and process adherence within the context of substation design projects. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their methodologies for project planning, execution, quality control, and team development.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Employee Ownership: As an employee-owned company, HDR offers a unique benefit where employees share in the company's success through stock ownership.

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans designed to support employee and family well-being.

• Retirement Savings Plan: 401(k) plan with company matching contributions to help employees save for the future.

• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday policies to promote work-life balance.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, certifications, and participation in industry conferences to foster continuous learning and career growth.

• Life and Disability Insurance: Coverage to provide financial security for employees and their families.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential support services for personal and work-related challenges.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work hours are typically 40 hours per week. However, given the project-driven nature of the role and the hybrid work arrangement, flexibility may be required to meet project deadlines and client needs, often involving extended hours during critical project phases. The expectation is for a significant in-office presence (4-5 days per week) to facilitate team collaboration and project oversight.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on market data for similar roles in Sacramento, CA, considering the experience